A groundbreaking study has revealed just how dedicated orangutans are to their young. These incredible primates can nurse their babies for a whopping 8-9 years, the longest of any mammal. Researchers think that prolonged nursing is likely due to the unpredictable nature of their rainforest homes.
Nursing behaviour is notoriously difficult to study in tree-dwelling primates. This is especially true for orangutans, who nurse their young high up in the rainforest canopy. They often feed throughout the night, hidden out of sight in their nest. Therefore, little was known about the weaning age in wild orangutans.
This study introduced a new method. By analysing barium levels in their teeth, scientists were able to track milk consumption and understand how it fluctuates with food availability. They found that barium levels increased during the first year of life, then fluctuated annually.
Orangutans have the slowest rate of reproduction among primates. This means that orangutan populations are extremely vulnerable to shocks and take a long time to recover. By protecting, connecting, and rewilding rainforests, we can improve resource availability and alleviate infant demand on mothers. This could have far-reaching implications for infant weaning and the overall resilience of orangutan populations.
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